Gang analysis 2010

Donald W. Reid 2010/2011

December 2010

Gang

(1) : a group of persons

working together (2) : a group

of persons working to unlawful

or antisocial ends; especially : a

band of antisocial adolescents


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Contents:

National Gang Threat Summary

Gang Types

Street Gangs

Prison Gangs

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

Central Region Activity

Indiana Gang Related Laws

Indiana Activity

2010 Most Prevalent Gang Identifiers

DOC STG Crimes

STG’s top ten crimes

Gangs Identified

Prevalent OMG Gangs in Indiana


Trends in Indiana

Individual Gang Details

Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation

(National)

Gangster Disciples (National)

Vice Lord Nation (National)

Sureño

Folks and People

Hells Angels

Mongols

Outlaws

Sons of Silence

Los Zetas

Gang Members in the Military



Gangs pose a serious threat to public safety in many

communities throughout the United States. Gang

members are increasingly migrating from urban to

suburban areas and are responsible for a growing

percentage of crime and violence in many communities.

Much gang-related criminal activity involves drug

trafficking; however, gang members are increasingly

engaging in alien and weapons trafficking. Additionally,

a rising number of U.S.-based gangs are seemingly intent

on developing working relationships with U.S.-

and foreign-based drug trafficking organizations (DTOs)

and other criminal organizations to gain direct access to

foreign sources of illicit drugs.


Key Findings of the 2009 national gang threat assessment

The following key findings were developed by analysis of

available federal, state, and local law enforcement

information; 2008 National Drug Intelligence Center

(NDIC) National Drug Threat Survey (NDTS) data; and

verified open source information:


• Approximately 1 million gang members belonging to

more than 20,000 gangs were criminally active

within all 50 states and the District of Columbia as of

September 2008.

• Local street gangs, or neighborhood-based street

gangs, remain a significant threat because they continue

to account for the largest number of gangs nationwide.

Most engage in violence in conjunction

with a variety of crimes, including retail-level drug

distribution.


• According to NDTS data, 58 percent of state and

local law enforcement agencies reported that criminal

gangs were active in their jurisdictions in 2008

compared with 45 percent of state and local agencies

in 2004.

• Gang members are migrating from urban areas to

suburban and rural communities, expanding the

gangs’ influence in most regions; they are doing so for a

variety of reasons, including expanding drug

distribution territories, increasing illicit revenue,

recruiting new members, hiding from law enforcement,

and escaping other gangs.


Many suburban and rural communities are experiencing

increasing gang-related crime and violence because of

expanding gang influence.

• Criminal gangs commit as much as 80 percent of the

crime in many communities, according to law

enforcement officials throughout the nation. Typical gang-

related crimes include alien smuggling,

armed robbery, assault, auto theft, drug trafficking,

extortion, fraud, home invasions, identity theft,

murder, and weapons trafficking.


• Gang members are the primary retail-level

distributors of most illicit drugs. They also are

increasingly distributing

wholesale-level quantities of marijuana and cocaine in

most urban and suburban communities.

• Some gangs traffic illicit drugs at the regional and

national levels; several are capable of competing

with U.S.-based Mexican DTOs.

• U.S.-based gang members illegally cross the U.S.–

Mexico border for the express purpose of smuggling

illicit drugs and illegal aliens from Mexico into the

United States.


• Many gangs actively use the Internet to recruit new

members and to communicate with members in

other areas of the United States and in foreign countries.

• Street gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs pose a growing

threat to law enforcement along the U.S.–

Canada border. They frequently associate with Canada-

based gangs and criminal organizations to facilitate various

criminal activities, including drug smuggling into the

United States.


Gang Types


Gang Types

Gangs vary extensively regarding membership,

structure, age, and ethnicity. However, three

basic types of gangs have been identified by

gang investigators:

street gangs,

prison gangs,

and outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs).


Street Gangs


Street Gangs

Street gangs that operate throughout most of

the country are a significant threat because they

are the largest and control the greatest geographical

area. Therefore, criminal activities such as

violence and drug trafficking perpetrated by street

gangs pose the greatest threat. The threat becomes

magnified as national- and regional-level street

gangs migrate from urban areas to suburban and

rural communities, expanding their influence

in most regions and broadening their presence

outside the United States to develop associations

with DTOs and other criminal organizations in

Mexico, Central America, and Canada.


• Currently, 11 national-level street gangs have

been identified in the United States, and

associates or members have been identified

in foreign countries, according to analysis

of federal, state, and local law enforcement


information. Established cells in foreign countries

assist gangs operating in the United States in further

developing associations with DTOs and other criminal

organizations in those countries. National gangs

typically have several hundred to several thousand

members nationwide who operate in multiple regions;

they may have cells in foreign countries with members

who assist the U.S.-based gangs, further developing

associations with DTOs and other criminal

organizations in those countries.


• Regional-level street gangs3 increasingly distribute drugs at

the wholesale level. At least five street gangs, specifically

Florencia 13, Fresno Bulldogs, Latin Disciples, Tango Blast,

and United Blood Nation, have been identified as operating

at a regional-level.

A.) Typically, regional-level gangs are organized, with several

hundred to several thousand members. Regional-level gangs

may have some members in foreign countries and maintain

ties to DTOs and other criminal organizations operating in

the United States.


Local street gangs, occasionally referred to as neighborhood-

based gangs or neighborhood based drug crews, pose a

considerable problem for local law enforcement and a

concern for federal law enforcement. Currently, most street

gangs are local-level gangs that operate in single locations.

Local street gangs usually range in membership from three to

several hundred members. Most of these gangs engage in

violence in conjunction with a variety of crimes, including

retail-level drug distribution; however, they usually have no

direct ties to DTOs or other criminal organizations.


However, several law enforcement agencies

have reported that a few local gangs have established

ties to wholesale-level drug traffickers operating along

the U.S.–Mexico border.

In addition, law enforcement officials in communities

along the U.S.–Mexico border have noted an increase in

the number of local gang members establishing dual

membership with their counterpart gangs in Mexico.


Prison Gangs


Prison Gangs

Prison gangs pose a serious domestic threat,

particularly national-level prison gangs that affiliate

with Mexican DTOs and maintain substantial

influence over street gangs in the communities

in which they operate. Prison gangs are highly

structured criminal networks that operate within

the federal and state prison systems. Furthermore,

these gangs operate in local communities through

members who have been released from prison.


Released members typically return to their home

communities and resume their former street gang

affiliations, acting as representatives of their

prison gang to recruit street gang members who

perform criminal acts on behalf of the prison

gang.


Prison gangs often control drug distribution

within correctional facilities and heavily influence

street-level distribution in some communities.

Prison gangs exert considerable control over

midlevel and retail-level drug distribution in the

Southwest Region and in southern California.

Their trafficking activities are facilitated through

their connections to Mexican DTOs, which

ensure access to a continuous supply of illicit

drugs that are distributed through their networks

in prison or are supplied to affiliated street gangs.


• National-level prison gangs pose a significant threat, since

most maintain some type of relationship with DTOs. Of

the five identified national-level prison gangs, two have

members or associates in at least two foreign countries.

Prison gangs are well organized and governed by

established sets of rules and codes of conduct that are

rigorously enforced by gang leaders. For example,

California-based Mexican Mafia (La Eme) uses fear and

intimidation to control Hispanic street gangs whose

members are in prison and on the street in California.

Such control gives La Eme command over 50,000 to

75,000 Sureños gang members and associates.


• Regional-level prison gangs pose a more modest, but growing,

threat because they are increasingly developing

associations with DTOs. Regional-level prison gangs have

organizational structures that are similar to those of

national-level gangs but typically are limited to operating in

one or two state prisonsystems. The most significant

regional-level prison gangs operate in Texas, and most

have ties to at least one Mexican DTO.


• Local- or state-level prison gangs, particularly those operating

along the U.S.–Mexico border, pose a serious concern to

local law enforcement officials. Some local prison gangs

along the U.S.–Mexico border maintain longstanding ties to

Mexican DTOs. Local prison gangs typically operate within

the department of corrections in a single state. As members

are released from prison, they often settle in local

communities in which they recruit and associate with local

street gang members and conduct criminal activities on

behalf of the prison gang.



OMG-related criminal activity poses a threat to public

safety in local communities in which these gangs operate

because of their wide-ranging criminal activity, propensity

to use violence, and ability to counter law enforcement

efforts. OMGs are highly structured criminal

organizations whose members engage in criminal activities

such as violent crime, weapons trafficking, and drug

trafficking.


OMGs maintain a strong centralized leadership that

implements rules regulating membership, conduct, and

criminal activity. As of June 2008 state and local law

enforcement agencies estimate that between 280 and 520

OMGs are operating at the national, regional, and local

levels. OMGs range in size from a single chapter to

hundreds of chapters worldwide. Current law enforcement

intelligence estimates indicate that more than 20,000

validated OMG members, divided among hundreds of

OMGs, reside in the United States.


• National-level OMG criminal activity poses a serious

national domestic threat. National level OMGs are a

considerable concern to law enforcement because they are

highly structured organizations with memberships ranging

into the thousands, maintaining strong associations with

transnational DTOs and other criminal organizations.

In addition, national-level OMGs maintain criminal

networks of regional and local motorcycle clubs,

commonly referred to as ―support,‖ ―puppet,‖ or ―duck‖

clubs, whose members conduct criminal activities in

support of the larger OMGs, and who are a source for

new members.


Some members of support clubs have acquired

employment with private businesses or government

agencies, which enables them to provide national-level

OMGs with business, government, and financial

information that can be used to protect their criminal

enterprises, according to open source and published

law enforcement information.


• Regional-level OMGs are highly structured organizations

that range in size from 50 to several hundred members. In

the United States 109 regional-level OMGs have been

identified by gang investigators; most support one of the

national-level OMGs. Several regional-level OMGs

maintain independent associations with transnational

DTOs and other criminal organizations.


• Local-level OMGs typically operate in a single state or in a

few neighboring states and have fewer than 50 members.

They are often support clubs for regional- and national-

level OMGs. Local-level OMGs usually have no ties to

DTOs or to other criminal organizations.


Central Region Activity


Central Region


Central Region

More than 5,800 gangs with approximately 222,400

members are criminally active in the Central Region,

according to NDTS 2008 data and interviews with local

law enforcement officials. Also according to NDTS

data, the percentage of state and local law enforcement

agencies in the Central Region that report gang activity

in their jurisdictions increased from 45 percent in 2004

to 55 percent in 2008. Gangs are responsible for as

much as 50 percent of the crime in some locations,

according to local law enforcement officials. The most

significant gangs operating in the Central Region are

Chicago-based Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings, Vice

Lords, and Black P. Stones.


• Gangs, particularly those with younger gang members,

are responsible for an increasing percentage of crime in

the region.

• Hispanic gangs in the Central Region are assuming a

larger role in wholesale drug distribution.

Predictive NGIC/NDIC intelligence:

• As West Coast-based Hispanic gangs, particularly

southern California-based Sureños 13 gangs,

expand their presence in the Central Region,6

gang-related violence associated with drug distribution

territories very likely will increase.


• Chicago-based gangs will continue to dominate retail-

level drug distribution in most urban areas of the Central

Region.

• Chicago-based gangs will expand their presence in more

suburban areas in the Central Region as a result of gang

member migration from urban to suburban areas.

• Chicago-based gangs will develop direct access to drug

sources of supply in Mexico.



IC 35-45-9

Chapter 9. Criminal Gang Control

IC 35-45-9-1

"Criminal gang" defined

Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "criminal gang" means a

group with at least three (3) members that specifically:

(1) either:

(A) promotes, sponsors, or assists in; or

(B) participates in; or


(2) requires as a condition of membership or

continued membership;

the commission of a felony or an act that would be a

felony if committed by an adult or the offense of

battery


IC 35-45-9-3

Participation in criminal gang; offense

Sec. 3. A person who knowingly or intentionally

actively participates in a criminal gang commits criminal

gang activity, a Class D felony.

IC 35-45-9-4

Threats; refusal to join or withdrawal from gang;

intimidation offense


Sec. 4. A person who threatens another person because

the other person:

(1) refuses to join a criminal gang; or

(2) has withdrawn from a criminal gang;

commits criminal gang intimidation, a Class C felony.


IC 35-45-9-5

Criminal gang recruitment

Sec. 5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), an

individual who knowingly or intentionally solicits,

recruits, entices, or intimidates another individual to join

a criminal gang commits criminal gang recruitment, a

Class D felony.

(b) The offense under subsection (a) is a Class C

felony if:


(1) the solicitation, recruitment, enticement, or

intimidation occurs within one thousand (1,000) feet of

school property; or

(2) the individual who is solicited, recruited,

enticed, or intimidated is less than eighteen (18) years

of age.


IC 35-45-9-6

Restitution

Sec. 6. In addition to any sentence or fine imposed on a

criminal gang member for committing a felony or

misdemeanor, the court shall order a criminal gang

member convicted of a felony or misdemeanor to make

restitution to the victim of the crime under IC 35-50-5-3.


Indiana Activity


Indiana Counties with

Reported Gang Activity

(2009)

Based on a City and/or

County response


Indiana Counties with

Reported Gang Activity

(2010)

Based on a City and/or

County response


2010 COUNTIES WITH

IDOC CONFIRMED

SECURITY THREAT

GROUP MEMBERS

BY ARRESTING

COUNTY


2010

Most Prevalent Gang Identifiers


2010 Most Prevalent Gang

Identifiers


DOC STG Crimes


DOC STG CRIMES

This year, with the assistance from the IDOC, the ISP also

queried for all crimes committed by the confirmed STGs

monitored by the DOC This information was then

compared between groups STG types (i.e. top DOC

CRIMES BROKEN DOWN BY DOC. groups, i.e. crimes

for OMG’s, Extremists, and Street Gangs), and crime

category. As suspected, drug charges were the highest

among the charges followed by burglary, robbery, theft,

murder, and weapon crimes. See the following chart

depicting crime totals for the DOC.


STG’s top ten crimes


The STG’s were further assessed for the top ten crimes

for each group: Hispanic Groups, white supremacist,

Folks, People, black/white extremist (i.e. Black Panthers,

Radical Racist, and Radical Ritualistic), and outlaw

motorcycle gangs.

Note: ―Att. To Commit F/M‖ is Attempt to Commit a

Felony or Misdemeanor. Some crimes are being pointed

out because they were not expected and/or for officer

safety reasons, they need to be highlighted.


HISPANIC GANGS

1. Drugs 130

2. Burglary 70

3. Robbery 58

4. Theft 45

5. Battery 39

6. Child Molestation 33

7. Murder 33

8. Att. to Commit F/M 25


10.Weapon Offenses 23


WHITE SUPREMACIST

1. Burglary 529

2. Drugs 448

3. Theft 369

4. Robbery 259

5. Weapons 257

6. Battery 190

7. Criminal Confinement 169

8. Fraud 152

9. Traffic Offenses 23

10. Resisting Arrest 79


FOLKS

1. Drugs 505

2. Robbery 380

3. Burglary 275

4. Theft 243

5. Fraud 246

6. Murder 179

7. Battery 169



10. Resisting Arrest 87


PEOPLE

1. Drugs 249

2. Robbery 163

3. Burglary 160

4. Theft 124

5. Battery 84

6. Fraud 84

7. Murder 75



10.Resisting Arrest 52


OMG

1. Drugs 28

2. Theft 19

3. Burglary 18

4. Murder 10


6. Robbery 9

7. Weapon Offenses 9


9. Battery 7

10. Forgery 7


EXTREMIST (BLACK OR WHITE)

1. Drugs 28

2. Burglary 18

3. Murder 12


5. Robbery 11

6. Theft 7


8. Battery 4

9. Weapon Offenses 3

10. Child Molestation 2


Gangs Identified


GANGS IDENTIFIED

The most prevalent gangs identified this year in

Indiana jurisdictions were as follows: 42 LK which is

unchanged from last year), 32 GD, 31 VL’s, 26 MS-13,

and 24 Sur-13. These last several years have shown a

significant number of MS-13, although it is uncertain

if those identified as MS-13 or Sur-13 are accurately

identified, since many Hispanic gangs will emulate

national gangs. However, the lack of national

connections does not make them any less of a threat

to the community. Additionally, this year showed a

growth in those who reported the Aryan

Brotherhood, with 14 reporting activity.


Below is a chart depicting the last 5 years for the top gang

affiliations in Indiana. It should be noted that statistics are

influenced by the number of respondents from year to

year, which participation has been higher during some

years. With the request of e-mails from respondents this

year, participation was significantly lower due to many

agencies not having access to law enforcement specific e-

mail.


The following is a list of all gangs identified. Not every

agency responded, so many local gangs may not be listed.

If the gang does not have their true name next to their

abbreviation and was not already identified, then their

true name was not provided. These are only street gangs

identified in the survey.


22's Insane Vice Lords Vatos Locos

2-6ers Insane VL Vice Lords

305 Gang Insane White Boys Victory Park Hustlers

318 Gang Jimtown WAR

4 Corner Hustlers Juggalos Wicked Ass White Boys

812 Gang Krises 4 Lyfe Wicked South Loco 13

88's La Raza Wicked Wild Boyz

Alaskan Fight Club Lakesiders Wolves

Aryan Brotherhood Latin Bishops X'ed Off

Asian Boyz Latin Counts Zoe Pound

Black Gangster Disciples Latin Dragons TOTAL: 112

Black P Stone Latin Kings

Bloods Latin Touch Boys

Boot Stompers LCB

Border Brothers LCP

Brothern Horn LID

Brown Pride Locos


Clowns Los Zetas

CLS LSG

Criminals 18 Mafia VL

Crip Eastside Clique Mexican Mafia

Crips MHG

CSP-13 Mickey Cobras

CWB Midwest Kings

Dawg Life Milwaukee Iron

Devils Advocates MLD

DFA Fight Club Mob Squad

Dirty White Boys MOE

DWB MS-13

East Point Soldiers MOM

EPS Morgan Boys

Fam Tights North End Warriors

Fedayeen Clique Nortenos

Folks PAC


Gangster Disciples PBG

Gaylords PBS

Goon Squad Proud Aryan Brotherhood

G Wood RK5

Hanover Skins Saints

Haughville Syndicate Sand Deigo Neo Nazis

Hoover Saxton Knights

Hybrid Skins of America Sinaloan Cowboys

Imperial Gangster Disciples Souther Sons

In Blood Lords Spanish Gangster Discples

Insane Clown Possee Spanish Vice Lords

Insane Deuces St. Mary's Boyz

SUR 13 Sureons



The Outlaws Motorcycle Club

The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club

The Iron Horsemen Motorcycle Club

The Mongols Motorcycle Club

The Sons of Silence Motorcycle Club


Trends in Indiana


NEW TRENDS AND OBSERVATIONS IN

SOME INDIANA AREAS

(Based on the Reporting Law Enforcement

Agencies—Reported as Stated/Not Assessed)


• Vice Lord and Gangster Disciple groups are working

together in order to promote drugs and profit in some

jurisdictions.

• Gang members are having family members and associates

provide money through their jail account using debit

transfers and/or a jail service resembling PayPal to secure

funds. These funds may be directly provided from

associates to another gang members’ account to whom the

offender owes money.

• There has been a growth in Spanish Gangster Disciples,

Imperial Gangsters, Insane Gangster Disciples, and Latin

Dragons.


• A sharp increase in extremists groups both in prison and

out have been reported (this trend was found true in

analysis). These groups expanded the most.

• Aryan Brotherhood are charging various gangs for

protection or services while in prison. Aryan Brotherhood

tattoos have changed in some jurisdictions to include city

names.

• Observations of gangs wearing rosaries to display their

gang colors have increased.

• There is an increase in recruitment of younger gang

members.

• Gang member were not wearing traditional gang clothing

in some jurisdictions to avoid detection.


• Outlaw motorcycle gang migration and activity have

increased in may areas throughout the state.

• The 4-Corner Hustlers and a gang called the Black

Disciples have united together in some areas to create a

gang called Outlaw Crazy (OLC).

• Some areas are observing new initiation styles, less

identifiers, and more weapons.

• Many are reporting larger Hispanic gang growth.

• Several jurisdictions reported a rise in gang related

thefts from cars.

• Some jurisdictions have observed an increase in fight

clubs associated with gangs. In some areas, this is how

gangs are initiating new members.


Individual Gang Details


Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (National)

The Latin Kings street gang was formed in Chicago in the

1960s and consisted predominantly of Mexican and Puerto

Rican males. Originally created with the philosophy of

overcoming racial prejudice and creating an organization of

―Kings,‖ the Latin Kings evolved into a criminal enterprise

operating throughout the United States under two umbrella

factions—Motherland, also known as KMC (King

Motherland Chicago), and Bloodline (New York).


All members of the gang refer to themselves as Latin

Kings and, currently, individuals of any nationality are

allowed to become members. Latin Kings associating

with the Motherland faction also identify themselves

as ―Almighty Latin King Nation (ALKN),‖ and make

up more than 160 structured chapters operating in

158 cities in 31 states.


The membership of Latin Kings following KMC is

estimated to be 20,000 to 35,000. The Bloodline was

founded by Luis Felipe in the New York State correctional

system in 1986. Latin Kings associating with Bloodline also

identify themselves as the ―Almighty Latin King and Queen

Nation (ALKQN).‖ Membership is estimated to be 2,200

to 7,500, divided among several dozen chapters operating

in 15 cities in 5 states.


Bloodline Latin Kings share a common culture and

structure with KMC and respect them as the Motherland,

but all chapters do not report to the Chicago leadership

hierarchy. The gang’s primary source of income is the

street-level distribution of powder cocaine, crack cocaine,

heroin, and marijuana. Latin Kings continue to portray

themselves as a community organization

while engaging in a wide variety of criminal activities,

including assault, burglary, homicide, identity theft, and

money laundering.


Gang Identifiers:

• 5-pointed crown

• Graffiti: a lion wearing a crown; 5-pointed crown

accompanied by the initials ―LK‖; Amor de Rey or

―ADR,‖ ―1-4-18‖, Amor de Corona, or ―ADC‖

• Colors: Black and Gold (yellow), red, and green


Gangster Disciples (National)

The Gangster Disciples street gang was formed in

Chicago, Illinois, in the mid-1960s. It is structured

like a corporation and is led by a chairman of the board.

Gang membership is estimated at 25,000 to 50,000; most

members are African American males from the Chicago

metropolitan area. The gang is active in 110 cities in 31

states. Its main source of income is the street-level

distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and

heroin. The gang also is involved in other criminal

activity, including assault, auto theft, firearms violations,

fraud, homicide, the operation of prostitution rings, and

money laundering.


Members smuggle illicit drugs, primarily powder

cocaine and marijuana, into the United

States and transport and distribute the drugs

throughout the country. Some members also are

involved in alien smuggling, assault, drive-by shootings,

homicide, identity theft, prostitution operations,

robbery, and weapons trafficking.


Identifiers/symbols:

• six-point star

• initials "GD"

• initials "BOS" or "BOSS (Brothers of the

Struggle or Brothers of the Strong Struggle)

• the number 6

• raised pitchforks


Mara Salvatrucha (National)

Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS 13, is one of the

largest Hispanic street gangs in the United States.

Traditionally, the gang consisted of loosely affiliated

groups known as cliques; however, law enforcement

officials have reported increased coordination of

criminal activity among Mara Salvatrucha cliques in the

Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and

New York metropolitan areas. The gang is estimated

to have 30,000 to 50,000 members and associate

members worldwide, 8,000 to 10,000 of whom reside in

the United States.


Identifiers: Mara Salvatrucha is ... known as Mara

Salvatrucha 13, MS 13, and MS XIII. They consider the

number ―13‖ to be lucky and if also shows an alliance with

Southern California Hispanic gangs. The number ―13‖ is a

reference to the thirteenth letter of the alphabet which is

―M.‖ ―M‖ is synonymous with La Eme or the Mexican

Mafia. The Mexican Mafia is a prison gang but according to

law enforcement sources, controls many Southern

California Hispanic gangs. As further evidence of the MS

alignment with Southern California, they may also use the

terms Sureño, Sureño 13, Sur or Sur 13. ―Sureño‖ is

Spanish for ―southern‖ while ―sur‖ means ―south.‖


Vice Lord Nation (National)

Vice Lord Nation, based in Chicago, is a collection of

structured gangs located in 74 cities in 28 states,

primarily in the Great Lakes region. Led by a national

board, the various gangs have an estimated 30,000 to

35,000 members, most of whom are African American

males. The main source of income is street-level

distribution of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Members

also engage in other criminal activity such as assault,

burglary, homicide, identity theft, and money laundering.


Gang Identifiers:

• 5-pointed star; top hat; martini glass; Playboy bunny;

dollar sign; cane

• Handsigns that form the letters ―VL‖

• Gold, black, and red colors

• University of Iowa, Pittsburg Steelers, and Penguins

attire; Louis Vitton (LV) caps; UNLV Jackets (UNLV-

VLNU reversed, Vice Lord Nations United)


Sureño

Also known as: Sur Trece, Sur 13,

The term Sureño (meaning southerner) originated in

the 1960’s in the California prison system after a Hispanic

inmate from northern California was killed by a member

of the California Mexican Mafi a (La Eme). This incident,

known as ―The War of the Shoes‖, led to the formation

of La Nuestra Familia (NF) and the birth of Sureños and

Norteños. On the formation of NF, Hispanic gang

members entering the California prison system were

expected to set aside their individual street names and

rivalries and align as either Sureños under La Eme or as

Norteños under NF, which is a practice that still exists.


Gang Identifiers:

Tattoos and graffiti will often include the words

"Dieciocho", "Sureño", or "Sur", the numbers "18",

"666", or the Roman Numeral "XVIII".

18th street cliques maintain the traditional colors of

blue and white in most locations.


Folks and People

Traditional street gangs in general belong to one of two

alliances born out of Illinois, Folks or People.

Incarcerated gang members established both alliances in

the 1970’s within the penitentiary system. An easy way to

think of these alliances is in terms of football. The

National Football League and the American Football

League are basically ―alliances‖ of individual teams. At

the same time, they have games against each other, so

they might also be rivals, but they are united against the

other league.


In the late 60’s and early 70’s, no one gang held

superiority within the Illinois department of Corrections;

however, the largest populations were Disciples, Vice

lords, Latin Kings and Blackstones. As members of

smaller gangs (Ambrose, Simon City Royals, Harrison

Gents, etc.) came into the system, they found themselves

incarcerated with their street rivals. This led to open

intimidation and retribution that had started on the

streets.

It was this scenario that led to the establishment of the

Folks and People alliances. Gangs that had street

allegiances with the Disciples were having problems with

the other three enemies of the streets, the Vice Lords,

Latin Kings, and Blackstones.


The condition of the alliance of the Black Gangster

Disciples (Hoover) with the Black Disciples (―Shorty‖

Freeman) was that if they agreed to ―Follow and Obey all

Laws the Kings Set‖ they would have protection of the

Disciples. Thus, Folks was established using the first letter

of the key words.


As a result of the new term ―Folks‖ showing alliance to

the Disciples, the Vice Lords, Latin Kings and other

gangs that opposed the Disciples started referring to

themselves as ―People‖. The alliances are not aligned

along racial lines: both contain Black, White, and

Hispanic street gangs.

The latest trend to have developed from recent

intelligence is that the People Folks umbrella is not as

nearly as defined as it was prior to 1997.


With the numerous changes within each organization

and the newer ―micro‖ organization that are

developing, the lines between what was once

People/Folks have changed. Once a member leaves the

institution setting he/she may rejoin an organization

that the member was once part of prior to his/her

arrest, depending on what organization is operating in

their old neighborhood.


Some of the major Folk Nation sets are:

• Black Gangster Disciples

• Black Disciples

• Gangster Disciples

• Imperial Gangsters

• La Raza

• Spanish Cobras

• Latin Eagles

• Latin Disciples

• Maniac Latin Disciples

• Simon City Royals

• Spanish Gangster

Disciples

• Two Sixers

• International Posse


Some of the major People Nation sets are listed below.

Latin Kings

Vicelords

Spanish Lords

El Rukns

Black P Stones

Bishops

Gaylords

Latin Counts

Kents

Mickey Cobras


Hells Angels

Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) is an OMG with

2,000 to 2,500 members belonging to more than 250

chapters in the United States and 26 foreign countries.

HAMC poses a criminal threat on six continents. U.S. law

enforcement authorities estimate that HAMC has more

than 69 chapters in 22 states with 900 to 950 members.


HAMC produces, transports, and distributes

marijuana and methamphetamine and transports and

distributes cocaine, hashish, heroin, LSD (lysergic

acid diethylamide), MDMA, PCP, and diverted

pharmaceuticals. HAMC is involved in other criminal

activity, including assault, extortion, homicide, money

laundering, and motorcycle theft.


The following two patches are of special interest the

Filthy Few patch and the Dequiallo patch both worn

by the Hells Angels.

At one time it was thought that to wear a Filthy Few

patch a member had killed someone for the club, it is

now thought that the member has done some type of

extraordinary act for the club (usually violent).

And probably the patch that should concern law

enforcement the most is the Dequiallo patch; this

means that a club member has assaulted a member of

law enforcement.


Mongols

Mongols Motorcycle Club is an extremely violent OMG

that poses a serious criminal threat to the Pacific and

southwestern regions of the United States. Mongols

members transport and distribute cocaine, marijuana,

and methamphetamine and frequently commit violent

crimes, including assault, intimidation, and murder, to

defend Mongols territory and uphold its reputation.

Mongols has 70 chapters nationwide, with most of the

club’s 800 to 850 members residing in California.


Many members are former street gang members with a

long history of using violence to settle grievances.

Agents with the ATF have called Mongols Motorcycle

Club the most violent and dangerous OMG in the

nation. In the 1980s, the Mongols OMG seized control

of southern California from HAMC, and today Mongols

club is allied with Bandidos, Outlaws, Sons of Silence,

and Pagan’s OMGs against HAMC. The Mongols club

also maintains ties to Hispanic street gangs in Los

Angeles.


Outlaws

Outlaws Motorcycle Club has more than 1,700

members belonging to 176 chapters in the United

States and 12 foreign countries. U.S. law enforcement

authorities estimate that Outlaws has more than 94

chapters in 22 states with more than 700 members.

Outlaws also identifies itself as the American Outlaws

Association (A.O.A.) and Outlaws Nation. Outlaws is

the dominant OMG in the Great Lakes region.

Gang members produce, transport, and distribute

methamphetamine and transport and distribute

cocaine, marijuana and, to a lesser extent, MDMA.


Outlaws members engage in various criminal activities,

including:

arson, assault, explosives operations, extortion, fraud,

homicide, intimidation, kidnapping, money

laundering, prostitution operations, robbery, theft, and

weapons violations. It competes with HAMC for

membership and territory.


Sons of Silence

Sons of Silence Motorcycle Club (SOSMC) is one of the

largest OMGs in the United States, with 250 to 275

members among 30 chapters in 12 states. The club also

has five chapters in Germany. SOSMC members have

been implicated in numerous criminal activities, including

murder, assault, drug trafficking, intimidation, extortion,

prostitution operations, money laundering, weapons

trafficking, and motorcycle and motorcycle parts theft.


Los Zetas

One of Mexico's most ruthless, tactically proficient criminal

gangs has spread from an original 31 mercenaries into a

sizable private army and criminal enterprise Los Zetas are

arguably Mexico's most ruthless and tactically proficient

criminal gang.

Essentially enforcers turned multipurpose cartel, they are

waging a brutal war against competing cartels and the

Mexican state alike. The Zetas' current situation is one of

flux. They are under immense pressure from both the state

and criminal competitors. As a result, they are waging an

increasingly brutal campaign to retain relevancy and expand

their power base.


They could emerge from their current situation

stronger by consolidating power and expanding their

reach, or, the backlash to their campaign could force

them off the table. Either way, Los Zetas have changed

the game forever in Mexico.


ORIGINS

Los Zetas were initially established as an

nforcement/protection arm for the Gulf Cartel (Cartel

del Golfo/ CDG) in the late 1990s. Deserters from the

Mexican special operations force, Known as GAFES

(Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales), they became

the close protection detail for Gulf cartel kingpin Osiel

Cardenas Guillen. Under the command of 'Z1' Arturo

Guzman Decenas, the original 31 Zetas brought their

skills and combat tradecraft to bear for the Gulf cartel's

business interests. Their mercenary mastery of

intelligence and operational tactics served their new

masters well


Once in place, the original Zetas each trained a cadre of

soldiers, recruited from state and municipal police forces

And, in some cases, the rank and file of Mexico's army.

This initial group of elite bodyguards catalyzed an

evolution of lethal force and tactics used within Mexico's

criminal underworld. Late model SUVs with tinted

windows and no license plates became the normal method

of transport. Tight shot groups in Los Zetas' victims

indicated a high level of proficiency, though this particular

high-skill level has diluted over the years.


Los Zetas brought ambushes, defensive positions,

and small-unit tactics—all long-employed by military

forces—to Mexico's criminal syndicates. They remain

one of the few criminal groups in the Americas

willing to deliberately take head on a military

checkpoint or patrol. When Los Zetas arrived, they

catalyzed an evolution of tactical knowledge and

strategic intelligence gathering that over the past 10

years has become the norm.


From that initial foundation the Zetas grew, bringing in

Guatemalan Kaibiles to expand their depth, reaching into

other aspects of the cartel business, and ultimately

merging with the Gulf leadership to form the Company

(La Compania). They then threw off their master to form

their own cartel cum private army. Along the way, the

Zetas created a brutal mystique, and developed a brutally

protected criminal brand, today synonymous with

violence and fear across the Americas


Their core strengths include well-honed intelligence

capabilities, exploiting grassroots networks, precision

small-unit attacks, ambushes and raids, and symbolic

violence and brutality. As a result, they are a dangerous

force across Mexico, where they have a concentration of

force, including the Mexican states of Quintana Roo,

Campeche, Tabasco, Veracruz, Tamaulipas, and Nuevo

León. In addition, they now pose a significant threat to the

solvency of state organs where they operate, especially In

the northeastern Mexican state of Tamaulipas.


Notable incidents allegedly tied to Los Zetas include

the December 2008 execution of Mexican soldiers in

Guerrero, a 'violence-torn, impoverished southern state

where a 'dual sovereignty' exists between the elected

government and narco-criminals; the February 2009

assassination of retired Brigadier Mauro Enrique Tello

Quinones to ward off government interference;


and their alleged participation in a September 2008 grenade

attack in Morelia that killed eight and wounded more than

100. Los Zetas' weaponry includes rocket and grenade

launchers, assault rifles (including the AK-47 and its variants

known as the cuerno de chivo as well as modified AR-15s

and M-16s), and .50 caliber Barrett sniper rifles. Their allies

include the Barrio Azteca, Texas Syndicate, Mexican Mafia,

and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) street gangs, remnants of the

Beltrán-Leyva organization and the Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes

organization, as well as a number of smaller drug trafficking

organizations in Colombia and Venezuela.


GAINING INDEPENDENCE

By early spring of 2010, the Zetas split from the Gulf

cartel's control, triggering a tectonic shift in Mexican

cartel alliances. The Gulf-Zeta split broke the duopoly

known as the Company, which had been maintained by

both factions to pursue drug trafficking and distribution,

human trafficking, product piracy, kidnapping, and

petroleum theft. This shift—announced by posting

banners known as narcomantas in several Mexican

states—is currently fueling the high levels of violence

throughout much of Mexico, especially those areas

(plazas and corridors) being contested by the Zetas.


CONCLUSION

Los Zetas have spread from an original 31 mercenaries into a

sizable private army and criminal enterprise. On the business

side of the house, they specialize in drugs, human trafficking

, small arms trafficking , extortion (street taxes), kidnapping

(levantones), murder, petroleum theft, and CD/DVD piracy.

Indeed, drug trafficking likely comprises less than half their

criminal revenuegenerating portfolio. Their current allies

include factions of the Beltrán-Leyva organization,


the Juarez and Tijuana cartels, Bolivian drug clans,

thirdgeneration (transnational street/prison) gangs, and

the Italian 'Ndrangheta. They conduct raids and

ambushes, and employ small unit infantry tactics

supported by intelligence operations to engage in close

quarters battle with state security forces. Assassinations

of police and political figures, including mayors and

candidates for state office, and threats against journalists

and judicial officials, round Out their violent range of

actions.


They employ these means to thwart competition from

other gangs, to control economic spheres of influence,

and increasingly to control territory to avoid interference

from the government and determine who runs the state.

In short, the Zetas are waging criminal insurgency against

their competitors and state institutions. To do so, they

increasingly employ threats (in March 2009 they threatened

to kill Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom; in August

2010 they killed two Mexican mayors).


These violent attacks are also being joined by more and

more barbaric means, including a June 6, 2010,

torture/mass murder where six victims were found in a

Cancun cave with their hearts cut out and 'Z' carved in

their abdomens, a violent prelude to the recent San

Fernando massacre. The Zetas are a violent threat to

the state. They have the tactical skills to produce

insurgent-style, high-order street violence. They also

pose a significant threat to state security forces. It

remains to be seen if they can consolidate their reach

and sustain their onslaught before meeting a more

proficient rival (licit or illicit).


According some reports, Indiana Hispanic street gangs

have used kidnapping as a means of intimidation,

extortion, and murder in furtherance of gang rivalries,

drug trafficking, and other criminal activities. Some of

these Hispanic street gang members have been utilized by

Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations for enforcement

and distribution purposes.

Los Zetas members were reported as being responsible

for recent incidents of a kidnapping and a threat of

kidnapping for extortion taxes against Indiana residents,

which may by indicative of an emerging Los Zetas threat.


Gang Members in the

Military


Gang Members in the Military

Members of nearly every major street gang as well

as some prison gangs and OMGs have been identified

on both domestic and international military

installations.

Deployments have resulted in gang members

among service members and/or dependents on or

near overseas bases. Additionally, military transfers

have resulted in gang members, both service members

and dependents/relatives, moving to new areas and

establishing a gang presence.


Gang members with military training pose a unique

threat to law enforcement personnel because of the

distinctive military skills that they possess and their

willingness to teach these skills to fellow gang members.

While the number of gang members trained by the

military is unknown, the threat that they pose to law

enforcement is potentially significant, particularly if

gang members trained in weapons, tactics, and planning

pass this instruction on to other gang members. In

addition, gang members currently serving in the military

sometimes take advantage of their positions to engage

in criminal activities such as trafficking weapons and

drugs.


Compiled by

Donald W. Reid

[email protected]

Resources:

Indiana Code

Indiana State Police

Indiana DOC

The National Gang Intelligence Center

The National Drug Intelligence Center

The National Alliance of Gang Investigators’ Associations

FBI

Montana Dept. of Corrections - Security Threat Group Task Force

Florida DOC

Los Zetas: Massacres, Assassinations and Infantry Tactics by John P.

Sullivan and Samuel Logan

mailto:[email protected]



Gang analysis 2010

Education

Transcript of Gang analysis 2010